0% Villa - Olympic Stadium going to West Ham

[bertlambshank]

My only concern with the whole thing is if West Ham are able to have the naming rights. It could give them some serious cash.

That is a very good point.Man Citeh couldn't change the name of their stadium for 10 years,after an agreement with the council.
With the council stumping up an interest free loan,I would guess it would be the same,but not sure.

[Percy McCarthy]

I just shook Sullivan's hand. I hope you will forgive me. It was like grasping the penis of a drowned corpse. He explained that he has a weak wrist - no really - so insisted on a kind of soul brother overhand grip. I will never forget this day

Oh Damon, was that really necessary? You're a tallish bloke, couldn't you have pretended you didn't see him?

[hawkeye]

If I was a West Ham fan I'd be delighted with this.

Not only because my club would have a shiny new stadium, but also because it probably marks the beginning of the end of the Gold/Sullivan/ Brady axis of evil. I'm sure I read at the time of their numerous attempts to get a free 60k casino/pleasuredome at Small Heath that their business plan was basically to do what the owners at Man City did in 2002, get a free stadium to increase the profitability of their asset and move it on.

They were never going to succeed at a two bob outfit like Small Heath, but you have to have some degree of respect for their persistence.

Only fly in the ointment I can see is that one of the few things the 'ammers have going for them is the atmosphere they can create at a tight ground like the Boleyn. Take that away, or space it out in a vast stadium and they might be even less effective as a team, if that's at all possible.

Having a nice shiny Olympic stadium hasn't done much to improve the profile of Hertha Berlin, for example.

I think the £20mil they are about to bank will lighten the blow

[dave.woodhall]

Him on the news just had a nice little dig. "Some people will be happy," indeed.

[JD]

I still reckon Leyton Orient will throw a spanner in the works and rightly so.

Rightly f*&king so Maz. My local team (from where I come from) and just down the road from Stratford. The stadium should be given to the Mighty O's who are the local team, not the bas&*rd Kit Stealers. 

[Chris Smith]

I still reckon Leyton Orient will throw a spanner in the works and rightly so.

Rightly f*&king so Maz. My local team (from where I come from) and just down the road from Stratford. The stadium should be given to the Mighty O's who are the local team, not the bas&*rd Kit Stealers. 

All very nice and romantic but in reality how could Orient afford to run a stadium like that? They'd be broke in 3 months.

[Matt C]

Something for Sullivan et al to mortgage West Ham against.

[hawkeye]

How sad that our Olypic stadium (and i say ours because it is being paid for with tax payers money) is handed over to these people whilst they are able to walk away with millions from the sale and development of Upton Park, and then more tax payers money given to them to develope the stadium, and those mandarins in The People Republic of Newham laughing all the way to the bank, this is the sort of country we live in.
I have nothing against West Ham a lot of thier supporters are real supporters but most of them dont have a clue whats going on here.

[Louzie0]

I would rather the stadium is used after the olympics than not. Rather West Ham than Spurs - who would have to move from their home patch in North London to East London - WHAT?? That's like saying that the Baggies move to a lovely new stadium called Villa Park.

Newham and West Ham (or anybody taking it over) have to put in a lot of reddies to make it work, apparently.  And that's the bit I don't get.  I've read that any new owners have to put in toilets and refreshments.  Don't Olympic crowds need those facilities?  Wouldn't they be there already?  (I'm already rethinking my application for Olympic tickets if not.)

Although I prefer the West Ham bid to that of the North London Massive, what about Leyton Orient?

Actuallly, what about them?  Cos if they move they lose the current distinction on football trivia quizzes about having the biggest pitch.  (square yardage) 

Are they anywhere near launching a bid - never mind a legal objection?
Cannot help thinking that this is a situation which could have been sorted with the interested parties before now - and when the stadium was a twinkle in the eye of seb coe...

[JD]

I still reckon Leyton Orient will throw a spanner in the works and rightly so.

Rightly f*&king so Maz. My local team (from where I come from) and just down the road from Stratford. The stadium should be given to the Mighty O's who are the local team, not the bas&*rd Kit Stealers. 

All very nice and romantic but in reality how could Orient afford to run a stadium like that? They'd be broke in 3 months.

I know that in all seriousness, but I just hope with the Kit Stealers moving to Leyton O's territory that it doesn't run them out of business.

[damon loves JT]

Sullivan let slip yesterday that the lease runs for 250 years. I find that astonishing. Effectively it's a freehold.

[WikiVilla]

Shiny new stadium or not, I'd be gutted if we ever left villa park, I still haven't got over the Trinity & Holte being ripped down

[TimTheVillain]

Good luck to West Ham, they have a decent football club there, tarnished by their current owners.

A bitter Lord ( !) Alan Sugar is not happy about this - what's new !! ?

[KevinGage]

I would rather the stadium is used after the olympics than not. Rather West Ham than Spurs - who would have to move from their home patch in North London to East London - WHAT?? That's like saying that the Baggies move to a lovely new stadium called Villa Park.

Newham and West Ham (or anybody taking it over) have to put in a lot of reddies to make it work, apparently.  And that's the bit I don't get.  I've read that any new owners have to put in toilets and refreshments.  Don't Olympic crowds need those facilities?  Wouldn't they be there already?  (I'm already rethinking my application for Olympic tickets if not.)

Although I prefer the West Ham bid to that of the North London Massive, what about Leyton Orient?

Actuallly, what about them?  Cos if they move they lose the current distinction on football trivia quizzes about having the biggest pitch.  (square yardage) 

Are they anywhere near launching a bid - never mind a legal objection?
Cannot help thinking that this is a situation which could have been sorted with the interested parties before now - and when the stadium was a twinkle in the eye of seb coe...

I don't think it would have been right for a club like Leyton Orient taking on sole responsibility for the place. But in principle, I wouldn't see an issue with a groundshare, if Hearn is so desperate to play there. Particularly with Essex County Cricket Club due to play there in the summer.

Pitch might take a battering, but it would be hard to argue that the needs of the sporting community weren't being met if they all get a look in. I think Hearn is more interested in a pay-off though. If there is any truth to the 5 mile radius thing, I expect he is just looking to exploit that financially, rather than have his side play in a venue at least four sizes too small for them.